Twenty extraordinary performances compose the sixth season of the Performing Arts Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas. The 2015-16 season includes concerts, dance, touring Broadway shows, comedians and family entertainment.

“This year’s all-star line-up definitely offers something for everyone,” said Dr. Brad Bielski, dean and chief administrative officer of Kent State Tuscarawas. “Highlighting this season’s concerts is the multi-platinum selling country singer and songwriter, Sara Evans. We expect a great demand for tickets to her concert. Also on our stage this year will be the beloved Broadway musicals Annie and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Returning to the Performing Arts Center stage, due to overwhelming demand, will be MAMMA MIA! and the iconic Oak Ridge Boys, both back for their third performances. Also, on stage for a second time will be Franc D’Ambrosio.

“Response to Franc D’Ambrosio’s June concert was so overwhelmingly positive that we added his Christmas in New York show to our upcoming season,” added Bielski. “He is famed as the longest running Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award winning musical, Phantom of the Opera.Christmas in New York incorporates favorite holiday songs. A unique and interesting point about D’Ambrosio’s performance is that he will record his Christmas in New York album in our theatre in September. The album will then be ready for sale at his December performance here. We are honored that he has chosen our world-class venue for his recording.

“We are excited about a second holiday show – An Irish Christmas which will feature phenomenal Irish music, song and dance. The performers are from the Kerry Dance Troupe led by Scott Doherty from Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, the Kerry Records voice squad and Irish actor Sheelagh Cullen.”

The cabaret series features Joan Ellison in Love Finds Judy Garland; the “human jukebox” Mike Petrone; blues-rock musician from Massillon, Patrick Sweany; and blues musician, Wallace Coleman. Tickets for each of the four events are $45 and include dinner.

Family programming includes Cirque Zíva performed by The Golden Dragon Acrobats, KamiKaze FireFlies and the internationally acclaimed Cashore Marionettes. The KamiKaze FireFlies skillfully combine juggling, hula hoops, german wheel, whip cracking and many tricks never seen anywhere else for a comedic show with a circus feel.The Cashore Marionettes is a humorous production that features artistry, grace and refinement of movement, redefining the art of puppetry.

There are three popular, stand-up comedians - Jeff Allen, Ralphie May and Craig Ferguson. Jeff Allen’s rapid-fire routine centers on marriage and living with teenagers. He frequently performs at churches and has been seen on many cable comedy shows. May and Ferguson are well-known for their uncensored remarks containing mature language and content. Both of these performances are for adult audiences only.

Rounding out the season is Guitar Phenom Shaun Hopper, The Australian Bee Gees Show - A Tribute to the Bee Geesand Late Nite Catechism, a long-running play about a fictitious nun. It is a hilarious, interactive comedy.

“We are fortunate to have three major sponsors this year,” stated Bielski. “As we previously announced, Michael Taylor Insurance & Financial, Inc. is the first Season Sponsor for the Performing Arts Center. Additional new sponsors include AquaBlue Inc., the Cabaret Series sponsor, and the Tuscarawas County Community Foundation, sponsor of our Broadway Series. We are fortunate to have the support of these major businesses. Their partnerships with the Performing Arts Center enable us to keep our ticket prices affordable.”

According to Bielski, programming for this sixth season was developed through the use of a community survey and four active focus groups which successfully programmed events for the Broadway, music, comedy and family/variety genres.

Tickets for the 2015-2016 season go on sale Aug. 10. Performing Arts Center members can take advantage of presale opportunities beginning Aug. 3. A complete list of performances and ticket prices are online at kent.edu/tusc/pac. Tickets can be purchased by mail, in person at the Performing Arts Center box office, by calling 330-308-6400 or online at kent.edu/tusc/pac. The box office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Free parking is available for all shows. The Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas is located at 330 University Dr. N.E. in New Philadelphia.
-Press release courtesy of Kent State University at Tuscarawas

Kent State Tuscarawas Announces 2015-16 Performing Arts Center Season

Shirley Bridges is Decked by WJER

And the winner is...Shirley Bridges of New Philadelphia!
Shirley's name was selected as the grand prize winner in our Deck Ya 2015
contest, and as the winner she'll receive an amazing prize package that
includes a deck package ($1,000 value) from Keim Lumber Company, deck
construction by Reiger Improvements & Construction, a $500 landscaping
certificate from Stutzman's Lawn Landscaping, a Cub Cadet LT 42 lawn tractor
from Krocker's Lawn & Garden, a Stihl string trimmer ($220 value) from ACE Hardware, a $100 bird feeder package from Agland Country Store, a Weber grill ($399
value) from Buehler's, a $250 gift certificate to Sugar Valley Meats, and a knife set and $250 gift certificate to Warther Cutlery.

To see Shirley's reaction when we surprised her with the announcement, click here.

It's the prize package of the summer, and it all goes to Shirley Bridges of New Philadelphia! Congratulations, Shirley!

Shirley Bridges is Decked by WJER

Advance Auto Parts Wins Subway Tray

Advance Auto Parts in Uhrichsville is this
week's winner of the Subway Hump Day Party Tray Giveaway! WJER's Hannah Hubbard
and Valerie Slabaugh delivered the goodies to the staff.

Here's what they got: two Subway party
trays each with 15 portions of mouthwatering sub sandwiches, a box of Subway
cookies, Coca Cola and Diet Coke, balloons from the Balloonatique, WJER
T-shirts, Radiograms, and more all delivered just in time for a fabulous lunch!

If you'd like your office to win this
awesome prize package, visit our Subway Hump Day Party Tray Giveaway page under
"Contests" for details.

Advance Auto Parts Wins Subway Tray

1450 WJER and New Towne Mall's Back-to-School Spirit Rally

Join WJER Radio as we show our school spirit at the New Towne Mall Back-to-School Spirit Rally on Tuesday, August 4th beginning at 5:00 p.m. Come to the New Towne Mall parking lot to show YOUR school spirit as cheerleaders from area high schools get the crowd pumped up for the upcoming school year!

1450 WJER and New Towne Mall's Back-to-School Spirit Rally

Hot Job of the Week

Tune in to 1450 WJER every Monday during the afternoon show as we
chat with Amy Miller of OhioMeansJobs about the “Hot Job of the Week.” Not only will Amy give details
about a specific job each week, but she'll also discuss tips, strategies, and
helpful hints for job seekers.
This week’s topic: OhioMeansJobs helps businesses, too!

Hot Job of the Week:

Employer
seeking: Fence Man/Carpenter

Job Code #:
T-245-6

Qualifications: Able to lift heavy (90 pounds) bags of cement; able to accurately
measure with a tape measure, set posts in concrete, stretch chain link, install
wooden and vinyl fencing pickets, and use a nail gun and power tools; 2-3 years
of experience; carpenter skills a plus; high school diploma/GED; at least 21
years old; must have a valid driver s license; pre-employment testing will
include a reference check

Hot Job of the Week

Nickel Day Coming Soon

Bust open your piggy bank and collect the nickels because Nickel Day is coming to Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia on Wednesday, August 5th! Join your friends from WJER Radio as we broadcast live from the park to tell you about all the great activities you and your entire family can enjoy for a VERY affordable price!

Rides,
swimming, and the first 1,000 bags of popcorn will be available for
just a nickel. The pool will be open to
swimmers from 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the rides will be open from
noon to 9:00 p.m. Be sure to stop by the WJER table to play nickel games
and enter for a chance to win ticketsto Cedar Point! It's going to be LOTS of fun, so mark your calendars and join us at Tuscora Park on August 5th!

Nickel Day Coming Soon

Cedar Point Means Summer Fun for the Whole Family

Planning a trip to Cedar Point before the kids go back to school? Click here for all the information you'll need to plan your visit to America's Roller Coast!

Cedar Point Means Summer Fun for the Whole Family

Upcoming Shows at the Kent State Performing Arts Center

The Kent State Performing Arts Center is nearing the end of another great season, but that means a new one is just around the corner! Check out the remaining performances for this season, and get a taste of what's to come:

Upcoming Shows at the Kent State Performing Arts Center

Grand Slam Contest

It's time once again for the Grand Slam contest! For each Cleveland Indians game, we will choose one contestant. If the Tribe hits a grand slam during the game, our contestant for that day will be entered into a drawing to win $500 courtesy of First Federal Community Bank. Even if the Indians don't hit a grand slam, our contestant will still receive four FREE small Peach & Passion Fruit Iced Fruit Smoothies from any McDonald'sin Tuscarawas County. At the end of the season, we will draw one name from all the contestants who had grand slams during "their" games and award the $500!

Be sure to register at any FirstFederalCommunityBank location, any of the Parkway Auto Dealerships on Commercial Parkway in Dover, or right here at WJER Radio for your chance to win. Tune in to 1450 WJER to catch all the Cleveland Indians action this season!

4. You may register more than once. However, you may be selected as a contestant only one time per season.

5.All contestants will be selected by random drawings from entries received at the First Federal Community Bank, The Parkway Auto Dealerships, and WJER Radio.

6.Employees of First Federal Community Bank, the Parkway Auto Group, WJER Radio, the Cleveland Indians, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.

7.By entering the contest, you agree to allow your name, voice, and likeness to be used for promotional purposes.

8. For our purposes, a grand slam is defined as follows: the Indians are at bat in an official game and the bases are loaded with Cleveland Indians players, and the Indians batter hits a homerun which scores a total of four runs (the three base runners and the batter). If for any reason the play is ruled invalid, the grand slam will not count.

9.If the Cleveland Indians hit a grand slam, the selected contestant for that game will be entered into a random drawing for the Grand Prize of $500.00.

10.There will be a total of 20 contestants competing for the Grand Prize. This will be a combination of Grand Slam contestants and a number of “Second Chance” contestants selected at the conclusion of the season from all entries (excluding those already selected as finalists). The number of "Second Chance" contestants will depend on the total number of grand slams during the contest period.